South Africa - Clearance
PRE-ARRIVAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SOUTH AFRICA
MN4-22 of 4th May 2022 issued by SAMSA and Department of Transport, stipulates that ALL small craft entering South Africa from international waters MUST register online through www.osasa.org.za for pre-arrival authorisation before entering the first Port of Entry.
This applies to South African as well as foreign boats.
The following details will be required:
- boat name,
- registration number,
- last port of call and date of departure,
- SA first Port of Call,
- SA second Port of Call,
- estimated date of arrival, and
- total number of sailors on board including their nationality.
In response to requests from incoming vessels, OSASA’s online platform now supports the registration of up to 18 crew at a time.
Be sure to register on the OSASA website prior to leaving your last port before South Africa. All forms can be completed online and submitted for a fee of R300. Entrance into port may be refused if you have not submitted pre-arrival notification via OSASA.
While all Covid-related travel restrictions have now been lifted, and a health declaration for each person aboard is no longer a requirement, what is required now is a request for pratique giving crew details plus an additional form giving vessel details, both forms available when you register on the OSASA website. These forms are submitted to the relevant authorities by OSASA on your behalf.
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Ports of Entry:
Cape Town and Richards Bay are the best ports for clearing into the country as they have more experience in handling foreign yachts, however all ports of entry are now open.
General Process:
- Register for pre-arrival authorisation from the MSCC and the Department of Transport online through the OSASA website.
- Make your own berth bookings at the relevant marina for your first Port of Entry.
- Fly a Q flag on arrival at a Port of Entry until cleared by Port Health, Customs and Immigration.
On approaching a port of entry, call Port Operations on VHF Ch16 or Ch09 for permission to enter. If a boat has not been pre-registered then permission is likely to be refused. Port Control often do not respond to VHF or phone calls.
To avoid a fine, you must clear in within 24 hours of arrival.
Inward clearance must be made with:
- Port Health: Proceed to a berthing area as directed by Port Operations and await a visit from Port Health for health clearance. No crew can leave the yacht until cleared by Port Health.
- Port Authority/Harbor Police: Take ships papers, passports for all the crew and clearance papers from the last port.
- Immigration: Take ships papers, passports for all the crew, clearance papers from the last port and the clearance certificate issued by the Port Authority. If Immigration do not visit the boat then all crew must visit the immigration office with passports. More Immigration details here.
- Customs: Take ships papers, passports for all the crew, clearance papers from the last port and the clearance certificate issued by the Port Authority. If boats arriving from a foreign port are not checked in with Customs on arrival (within 24 hours) they will be fined. More Customs details here.
Domestic Cruising/Flights Plans for Making Passage along the SA Coast
Flight plans are produced by individual yacht clubs or marinas. Some have a set of forms that need to be completed at the relevant office and stamped out for clearance, others have a simple online passage plan to complete prior to departure and some of the smaller ports don’t require anything. See the individual port page – clearance section, for details of what action is required at each port.
Yachts clubs and marinas use the Flight Plans to ensure all dues have been paid and are then subsequently submitted to Port Control to inform them of the yacht leaving.
Coastal sailing in South Africa does not require a Health Pratique to be issued for each individual coastal port, nor for additional clearance through Customs and Immigration. The yacht simply needs to call Port Control for permission to enter and leave, and communicate with the yacht club/marina regarding berthing.
It is highly recommend to call ahead to Port Control in your next port and also the next marina or yacht club for berthing. This is especially valid over the Nov/Dec period, as berths fill very quickly in the more popular locations. The OSASA website has an easy-reference page with contact numbers for all ports – see https://www.osasa.org.za/coastal-passage-making
From Durban southward the online flight plan/passage plan is currently in use and obtainable from www.sailingpe.co.za
CLEARING OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA
International Clearance:
Complete the relevant passage plan (flight plan). Before departure, get a “Berth Occupancy Clearance Certificate” from the marina you have been staying in, stating that all dues have been paid. The Royal Cape Yacht Club (in Cape Town) – or Transnet National port Authority in other ports – will give you a “Letter of Good Standing” once you present proof that all dues have been paid. Take this to Customs and Immigration to be cleared out of the country.
First Immigration with all Crew
- Letters/certificates as above (originals)
- Sailing Notice (to be collected at the Immigration office)
- Passports copies (crew+ skipper)
- Crew change form (in case there is a change on the crew list between clearance in and clearance out)
- Crew list signed and stamped
- All passports
Fingerprints and a portrait photo will be taken.
You will receive a certificate of compliance to obtain clearance from Customs.
Then Customs:
In some ports, Customs want all the paperwork scanned or photographed and emailed to them and prefer contact by e-mail rather than face to face.
This is definitely the case if clearing out of Cape Town, so give yourself plenty of time and start the day before you wish to leave. E-mail all forms/documents to ctnportenquiries@sars.gov.za. They will send back 2 documents [DA1 + DA3 forms] for you to print off, complete, scan and send back to be stamped.
Customs will want to see:
- DA1 + DA3 forms (available from Customs)
- Copy of skipper’s passport
- Letters as above (copies)
- Crew list signed and stamped
- Boat papers and previous clearances
After clearing out the skipper (or any crew member) can claim the VAT on any good purchased in SA. See Customs for more details.
After departure clearance, one must leave the country within 24 hours and make no further stops in South Africa.
Call Port Control for permission to depart.
Note: If departing the country from Cape Town, all yachts must sail back to the port of Cape Town and get a letter of good standing from the Royal Cape Yacht Club in order to clear out. It is here you complete your flight plan as well. While this is irritating as it’s a day sail back to the RCYC from False Bay or Hout Bay, these are the rules.
See this recent report – January 2024 – about clearing out of Cape Town.
Notes from OSASA:
- Once your passport has been stamped out, you have left South Africa in exactly the same way as if you had gone through the passport barrier at an airport or land border and cannot just “pop in” to other ports, harbours or anchorages along the way without once again clearing in through Customs and Immigration.
- One of OSASA’s key functions is liaise with government to promote the cruising industry in South Africa. Vital to this is the gathering of information about the economic contribution of cruisers to the local tourism and maritime sectors. When departing South Africa, you can make a huge difference by completing the OSASA Exit Survey. Go to this link.
Last updated: April 2024
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South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) announced, on 22 December 2023, that due to continued and significant backlogs in processing visa documents, several concessions have been made. Visa applicants across a number of categories, including visitor’s visas and visa extensions which are pending as at 30 November 2023, will be granted an extension to 30 June 2024. If you wish to abandon your application, you must leave the country via a designated port of entry by 30 June 2024 to avoid being categorised as undesirable. See the DHA Accouncement – http://www.dha.gov.za/images/PDFs/Concession_Document_2023.pdf
Load shedding (Planned Power Outages)
If you visit to South Africa you are going to hear about ‘load shedding’ pretty quickly.
As I understand it Load Shedding is a planned power outage; due to power grid and demand issues – areas of each grid/network deliberately have the power stitched off (often for 2 hours a day – sometimes more). This may be locally (daily or weekly) or even nationwide (more rarely).
I thought I’d be fine (the boat is off the grid anyway) – but it is really useful to know the load shedding times of the areas you visit.
Local cell phone towers are without power during load shedding – they have backup batteries to cover this, but these don’t always last the full downtime (and are sometimes stolen anyway) – so if your signal fails this is often the reason (avoid planning critical calls and zoom-meetings where you will need phone/data connection during such times).
Even if power is up where you are – we found ATMs often didn’t work since the hub sever was under load shedding. We found some services at the mall were impossible (eg getting a SIM card – since servers were down at one end or the other). A Dr visit was interrupted while we waited for generators to kick in, Attempts to make online payments for customs duty repeatedly failed, etc., etc.
There are apps that tell you when to expect load shedding by area (ask the locals which zone you are in – each town seems to have multiple areas so the mall is often different from the anchorage/dock areas). Eg Apps such as ‘LoadShedding’ or ‘EskomSePush’. Also community Facebook pages tend to post details.
While many business have their own generators, Some restaurants may pause service (not always)… some shops just close their doors, traffic light junctions revert to 4-way stops, etc.
So … Load Shedding really is something you need to know about and most activities can be made easier if you plan/call ahead so as to avoid, or allow for, load shedding times.
OSASA report on the approaching 2022/23 season: “It looks as if we will have a full season for 2022/3 – both the Oyster World Rally and the continuation of the World Arc are planning to make extensive stops in South Africa at the end of 2022, the Cape 2 Rio leaves again Jan 2023, and the Ocean Race arrives in Cape Town in Feb 2023. The Golden Globe does not call, but passes through a “media gate” off Cape Town, sometime in December.”
Des Cason in South Africa has for many years been an incredible aid to cruising boats tackling this coast and the notorious Mozambique Channel, with his free routing and weather advice. To date he has assisted over 500 yachts. Useful articles by Des can be found in the Cruising Resources/Routing/Indian Ocean pages including these 2 very helpful reports: [https://www.noonsite.com/report/crossing-the-indian-ocean-guide-2020/] and [https://www.noonsite.com/report/madagascar-and-mozambique-channel/].
OSASA [www.osasa.org.za] report that the South African Affiliates Council has had its first planning meeting together with other interested parties, to look at the creation and use of a simplified uniform Port to Port Passage Plan, which will be used by all yacht clubs and marinas to advise both Ports and clubs/marinas of boats travelling along the coast. This will be free and online, sent to each departure and destination port, and hopefully be used by all. It is hope this will be finalised soon.
OSASA also want to remind all incoming yachts to South Africa that it is a LEGAL requirement for ALL yachts (even local ones) who are returning to the country to complete the online registration for Department of Transport, through the OSASA online portal http://www.osasa.org.za. Plus, remember to check your visa viability – not all countries will automatically receive a visa on entry and if you arrive without one (and need one) you will either have to fly back to your home country to get one, or stay on board at all times.
See Clearance for full details – https://www.noonsite.com/place/south-africa/formalities
Download OSASA’s great cheat sheet for a round-up of South Africa port information [https://www.dropbox.com/s/h9hqy0py038fw1n/South%20African%20Coast%20Cheat%20Sheet.pdf?dl=0].
Posted by Mike elsewhere on Noonsite – 09/09/2021
I am currently at the Durban yacht club on a 50 foot cat.
There is not much room in the marina currently. I think I was lucky to get a berth. However the staff here are very good and will do everything they can to accommodate you.
It is very quiet here re tourists. Most services are back to normal now with plenty of food and fuel.
Moving on to Cape Town on the next weather window.
I wouldn’t recommend cruising anywhere unless you are fully vaccinated against Covid19
Previous to Durban we were in Reunion which was the only Island in the South Indian excepting cruising yachts. Well worth spending some time there with a lot more to see and do.
The marina there is also quite full, so you may have to tie up to the wall as we had to.
Cheers Mike
Excellent experiences in Cape Town,SA, with contractors for repairs.
The friendly and save RCYC is a good place to relax and to make repairs .
Action Yachting in the Club (acyot@iafrica.com) with his expierented manager David Barnes with the repair of my hull/keel section did a great craftmanship to moderate and fair prices.
Associated Rigging makes a rigg check for free and a good job.
If dfficult problems with engine ,electric, electronik or SSB( operates the only working SSB digipeater between Saint Helena and CT) appear call Colin Porter (+ 27 (82) 343 2444) . He will find a professional solution.
Arnold Schaefer,Germany,SY Incroyable
Posted on OSASA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1356933018022241
Some recent activity around the S African coast – always stories to tell!
Catamaran 1 left Richards Bay bound for Tanzania, and was t-boned by a fishing boat in the Mozambique Channel, necessitating a swift return to RBay where she is still sitting, waiting repairs.
Catamaran 2 left Richards Bay also bound north, only to hit a whale in Maputo Bay! Also smart return to RBay for repairs!
Then a yacht arrived in RBay directly from Malaysia, having left there in a hurry to return home to SA when Malaysia said everyone had 30 days to leave. A long long passage with damage to the boat when they lost one mast, but they limped into RBay – only to be refused clearance by Immigration because they have two dogs on board and did not have import permits. Have had to sail on to Cape Town in order to put the dogs in quarantine with the State Vet – only quarantine facilities are at Johannesburg and Cape Town airports.
So, current rules are you can IMPORT pets only by air.
However, OSASA is in protracted discussion with the State and National Vets to determine what the rules are for pets “in transit”, which will remain on board and not be allowed off the boat. Watch this space!
A word of warning about entering South Africa. Please ensure you have registered on http://www.OSASA.org.za before leaving your last port of call- this is not a optional extra, it is a real necessity! See the Formalities page for all the correct information: https://www.noonsite.com/place/south-africa/formalities/
Peri peri net is still in operation on 8101usb, from 06h50b (04h50gmt)
At the moment we have Robin, (Riptide), on the natal coast and Andrew, (-Easy Rider) in Cape Town…..can give good weather info.
If I want to sail from SA to UK stopping St Helena and Cabo Verde are there restrictions
Visa extension.
As a new rules apply from December 2019, and new systems on the South African borders, visiting neighboring countries will NOT give you extra 3 months visa.
The only options are to fly back to you country or apply for extension.
As we were rebuilding our engine, we were running out of time and flying back to Australia is expensive business. We did apply for extension in Durban couple of weeks before our visa expires.
Process is frustrating and officials, well, no comment there…
Paperwork plentiful, clerks working for the visa company incompetent with no people skills.
On lodging application and fork R4000 for 3 of us, up to 8 weeks waiting started with no guarantee at the end.
Good part is, with the receipt from the department we were LEGAL in the country while waiting.
We were in Richard’s Bay at that time, sail down to EL and received email that our Visas were granted.
Tricky part is, had to pick a visas from the place of lodgement so one of us had to fly back to Durban.
After couple of cold beers in East London we didn’t think much about stupidity, incompetence, frustration, money spent, time wasted. All good
The Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation (RCCPF) has come out with a free passage planning guide from South Africa to the Caribbean Sea https://rccpf.org.uk/pilots/177/South-Africa-to-the-Caribbean
There are two sides to every story. The Customer emailed the Ullman Sails representative categorically stating that he “received two attached documents that I did not open them”. Those documents reflected the quotation and on the 2nd page under “terms and conditions” it is clearly stated that VAT is not included in the quoted price. The Customer failed to read these documents.
the mail is also a disaster.
Don. t expect to receive anything, even registered when shipped from overseas.
I lost 2 credit cards, registered mail lost.
I was extremely well received in the Yacht Clubs of South Africa.
This country has strong contradictions and some business relationships were surprising.
I had a very bad experience with the local sailmaker in Simon’s town: Ullmann’s Sails. (They gave me a) misleading quotation, my debit card was debited for more than asked, refusal to handle the problem, threats and a very un-polite attitude.
As for the quality of the product (trampoline), they first denied a big mistake (10cms error on 200cms)and said that my boat was crooked, while it was symmetrical within one cm. They agreed to fix the problem, but I never received any excuse either for the wrong overcharge, VAT not specified as excluded from the quotation, never refunded, neither for the technical mess.
I was even told that I was dishonest. I strongly advise cruisers to avoid this company, at least the Cape Town branch.
Ullman Sails are not my favourite, either… Had a stackpack order completed by them and it literally fell apart when we got to Grenada – seems they did not bother to use UV – resistant thread when sewing the panels. How much more would that simple fact have cost them and us? Instead, we had to have the whole stackpack resewn in Trinidad, at our expense. Grrh!
Concerning Pets in South Africa:
You don’t need to get a pet import permit if your pet stays aboard during your stay in South Africa. I have gone through the trouble of applying for the pet import for our cat, which is not easy. You need for example a South African postal address. During this process, I learned from a South African State Veterinarian that no import is needed if the cat stays aboard. The cat is then “in transit”.
So when we cleared into Richards Bay, I did not mention the Pet Import permit but said the cat is in transit and stays aboard. This was no problem, the quarantine officer only wanted to see the cat’s documents (vaccination). I know other sailors who entered with a cat and without the pet import permit and they had no issues. (Experience in Richards Bay, Nov. 2017).
If anyone would like to know more about our experience or reference to the state veterinarian, please feel free to contact us, evibettac(at)web(dot)de.
Enjoy your stay with your cat in South Africa!
This refund is a hoax – don’t plan on getting anything but a disappointment! The best option is to pay cash for labour and no VAT.
Further to my comment about a lost customs claim refund posted December 2014 subsequently all the documentation was returned to me last year stating the claim was invalid because it had not been submitted in time. In fact, it was submitted on 12 May 2014 the day before our departure and was lost by customs. I recommend that all yachts should be very careful if they hope to have a claim for a VAT refund on capital purchase to be refunded.
I practised as a barrister – and a solicitor – in South Africa for many years. Yacht Silvercloud has it exactly right. Show your teeth and you’ll have no further trouble. You can threaten them with your embassy too – its a lot cheaper than a lawyer!
The SA authorities are mostly run by disgruntled whites or unqualified blacks. They seem to make their own laws outside the real laws. Use a good maritime lawyer and they will back down quickly. There is no need to involve any yacht club or make payments to private yacht clubs as that is not law. Nor can they insist on anything other than international laws pertaining to visiting boats. Right at the beginning of the real law foreign registered boats are excluded. Insist on your rights or take them on.
We left South Africa in May 2014 and put in a claim for a customs refund on over 200,000 rands for goods supplied which was worth about $3000.We waited 3 months and contacted the refund company who had no knowledge of our claim. After repeated emails and letters we have not received anything and now regard it as lost by South African Customs (SARS)
Having investigated the above comment it appears that this regulation/inspection only applies to commercial boats over 7m. The author operates a charter boat out of Richards Bay.
We were informed by a South African Maritime Safety Authority yesterday that any foreign vessels arriving in South Africa without or with lapsed safety certificates will need to undergo a SAMSA safety inspection. The requirements are set out at http://www.samsa.org.za/category/social-tags/checklist and http://www.samsa.org.za/content/small-vessels. They informed us that we would need to unpack everything so that they can inspect all bulkheads, frames and stringers.